Category Archives: March 1862

I avail myself of the present opportunity to inform you of my safe arrival at this place. I have been quite well since I left home, though Jno Doak has been quite sick ever since he came.

We arrived here on Friday in a very disagreeable time, it has snowing and raining every since untill to day, which reminds me of a spring day in Miss, though it may be snowing tomorrow.

All the furloughed men but 6 have arrived and I think they will be in tomorrow.

We are camped about 2 miles from town. There are a great many men here. I reckon you were all surprised to hear that our army had fallen back to the Rappahanick River, instead of towards Centerville as we heard. I canit can not see the point in it but it may that our generals do.

I think you will stirring times about Corinth soon. Our Brigade lost nearly all of their goods that they could not carry with them. I lost a great many of my things, though some of them were reported sent to this place, and now they are gone to Richmond, and we have orders to march at any moment, and it is thought that we will leave here in a day or two, though we are all in the dark as to where we are going. Some think we are going to N.C.

Click image to learn more about “bell shaped” Sibley tents.

We have but eight tents in the the company and for the present we have to arrive in as best we can. We have new tents, but I don’t think they are as good as the old ones. They are bell-shaped – the others wall-tents.

Click image of CSA Lt. General Wade Legion to learn more about the “Hampton Legion.”

The boys all say that the march from Dumfries here was the hardest they ever had. It took them three days and only 30 miles. Hampton’s Legion that was with our Brigade had a skirmish with the enemy the morning they left. Our Brigade stayed at the camp waiting for the Yankees to come up but the cowardly scoundrels waited untill they left and then they marched right into our cabbins.

The above was written before drill this evening and since supper I heard that the chaplains of our Regt (leaison) was going home tomorrow morning + that would be a certain transport for my letter as far as Corinth Miss.

March 31, 1862: page 2

The boys say they have never seen any thing of that box of provisions. I suppose the Yankees have got it by this time. The provisions we brought us answered a very good purpose. We had two or three hams left after we got here.

I want you to answer this immediately. I will write again this week, if I can send my letter off. Wishing you to write soon I remain

Your devoted son,

P M Buford

Blogger’s Notes:

Parham wrote Jno Doak has been quite sick. The three Doaks serving in the Lamar Rifles were James, John, and Julius. The blogger believes the identity of the abbreviated Jno is John Doak.

This letter was written from Camp Barlow near Fredricksburg, Va…about 2 miles from town. Where is the exact location of this camp?

It appears this letter was hand delivered to at least Corinth, Mississippi by chaplains within the regiment identified as (leaison). Who or what is the identity of (leaison)?